Stroke patient recovering with help from occupational therapist

Posted By: Rachael Miner

rminer@klkntv.com

Working on a computer is something Tom Larsen loved to do, but after suffering a serious stroke back in October 2017 no one knew if he’d be able to get back to his love of technology.

Enter Dani Willey, an occupational therapist at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital’s Lincoln Campus.

She helped tom get a new method of communication.

"Using a scanner switch he’s able to select what he wants to say and then we have a quick talk feature that will say it out loud as well," Dani Willey said.

When Tom arrived at Madonna he could only communicate yes or no to the therapists by moving his eyes up or down.

Dani helped change that. Now he uses a system called Tobii Dynavox, it’s a bluetooth system that allows him to type out emails to loved ones using simple head motions or by quickly selecting full words.

Watching Dani and Tom interact in therapy it’s easy to see she shares a special connection with him.

"He and I have definitely had a really good connection. He likes to try to run into things purposely on his chair don’t you? Just to see how quickly I can be to shut his chair off," Willey said.

Helping patients regain skills is rewarding for Dani, but what’s her favorite part about the job?

"Patients like Tom. Absolutely hands down. Being able to just help somebody that isn’t able to do anything for themselves and to just give him as much independence as we can," Willey said.